About

Introduction

OpenPro, Inc. is a leader in licensed Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software using open source technology. The company, founded in 1998 and profitable since 2001, has many licensed customers in a cross section of industries. Revenue is increasing by over 40% per year. With OpenPro, clients receive more function and more value than alternative ERP offerings. Users can implement OpenPro ERP in as little as one day.

OpenPro is an innovator

First fully web based ERP software package.

First integrated Document Imaging with ERP Software.

First integrated work flow as part of the business processes.

Business Strategy

OpenPro was established to provide ERP functionality to small and medium-sized business (SMBs), whose need for affordable and less complex business software has not been met by traditional ERP vendors.

In 1998, OpenPro seized upon the new technologies of open source software and Web-based architecture and employed a team of developers to develop a complete ERP suite suited to the SMB market.

Because OpenPro is built using open source technology, the initial purchase price and the ongoing maintenance expense is less than half that of Microsoft® Windows-based ERP software solutions. OpenPro has two software products, Easy ERP™ and Enterprise ERP. They are available as licensed software, typically in the $20,000 to $200,000 range, and also as an Application Service Provider (ASP) in the cloud.

Company Background

The co-founder and CEO, Jim Clark, spent approximately 20 years as a manager for a Value Added integrator of ERP solutions in Southern California; he understands ERP solutions and issues, and has contacts with the individuals responsible for purchasing information technology for ERP solutions.

In 1998 Jim and his wife, Shannon, an accountant, formed OpenPro to develop a Web-based, open source technology ERP software product.

Sales Channel

OpenPro sells primarily through indirect, reseller channels. This is the strategy recommended by Forrester Research for ERP sales to small and mid-market companies. At present, OpenPro sells direct in territories where they have not yet recruited a distributor; as the distributor network is expanded.

OpenPro now has over 75 distributors throughout the U.S.A. and internationally.

Jim Clark has a well-established reputation and visibility in the ERP software community; this reputation has been a primary source of recruiting resellers and supporting sales opportunities.

Product and Technology

OpenPro has two ERP products, Easy ERP and OpenPro Enterprise. Easy ERP is designed for companies with 20 users or less that are seeking prepackaged application modules and a limited number of database types. OpenPro Enterprise is designed for larger companies with more than 20 users; it offers more options of database, operating systems and functional components.

OpenPro supports both traditional licensing and ASP. Easy ERP can be implemented in as little as a day for companies with limited requirements who select the ASP cloud option.

The current solution includes six modules, each of which is separately licensed: Financial, Distribution, Manufacturing, Customer Relationship Management, e-Commerce and System Manager.

OpenPro has priced its products to compete with both off-the-shelf, general-purpose databases and ERP management systems. Pricing for the Easy ERP licensed software is lower than most software companies.

OpenPro lets the customer choose the deployment - in the cloud or on premise.

OpenPro's ERP software uses an open architecture technology, which allows it to penetrate all existing ERP markets. The software can run on any operating system including Linux; Windows; UNIX®; and Mac; as well as on IBM AS400 I and Z series mainframes and minis; HP minis and Sun minis; and it can use any SQL database.

OpenPro uses LAMP open source technology, a robust and well accepted open source standard. OpenPro, which is fully Web-based, has addressed the challenges of ERP software by using a rules-based engine that provides the flexibility to support many different industries. It is written in PHP, an open source that is a highly customizable application.